Russia

Buy a mobile phone number in Russia to which you can receive text messages.

On the SMS2MAX website you can buy a virtual number in Russia for receiving SMS and registering in 200+ different world services. In just a few minutes, you have the opportunity to go through SMS activation on the desired platform.

How to get a phone number for SMS Russia?

1. Register on our website.
2. Fill up the balance in a convenient way.
3. Select the service from which you want to receive SMS.
4. Indicate the purchased number during the SMS activation process.
5. Receive the SMS in the “Active orders” tab.

Details about the country and popular services in it

 Popular social networks

In Russia, social networks have a significant impact on the information space, although their popularity has changed due to political and regulatory restrictions. As of 2025:

• VKontakte (VK): The most popular social network in Russia, created by Pavel Durov. It has about 70-80 million monthly active users. Offers music, videos, groups, and a messenger, making it an analog of Facebook for the Russian-speaking population.
• Odnoklassniki (OK): The second most popular platform targeting an older audience. The number of active users is about 40 million. Focuses on family communication and nostalgia.
• Telegram, which gained popularity after the blocking of Western platforms. It has about 50 million users in Russia due to security and anonymity.
• YouTube: Although not a classic social network, the platform remains a major source of video content with millions of views daily, despite periodic threats of blocking.

Western platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X) have lost popularity due to access restrictions after 2022, although some users bypass the blocks with VPNs.

 Major Mobile Operators

The Russian telecommunications market is developed and competitive, with several key players:

• MTS (Mobile TeleSystems): The largest operator with a market share of around 30%. Provides 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G services (in major cities). The subscriber base is over 78 million
• MegaFon: The second largest operator with approximately 70 million subscribers. It is known for its wide coverage in remote regions and high 4G speeds.
• Beline (VimpelCom): Has about 50 million subscribers. Part of the VEON holding, focuses on affordable tariffs and digital services.
• Tele2: A smaller but growing operator with 45 million subscribers. Popular among young people due to its budget offers and focus on mobile internet.

 Telecom Market Features

The Russian telecom market is characterized by a high level of competition between operators, which leads to relatively low prices for services. The state plays a significant role through regulations and sanctions that limit access to Western technologies, forcing companies to develop their own solutions.

5G deployment is hampered by a lack of equipment and frequencies occupied by military needs, although there are already test zones in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In remote regions (Siberia, the Far East), coverage remains uneven, but operators are investing in satellite communications to improve it. The market is also facing censorship pressure: operators are required to cooperate with the authorities to monitor traffic.

 Mobile penetration rate

As of 2025, the mobile penetration rate in Russia exceeds 170%, meaning that 144 million people have more than 243 million active SIM cards. This is due to the fact that many Russians have several SIM cards for different needs (work, personal, internet). Mobile internet is available to 85-90% of the population, with broad 4G coverage in urban areas and gradual expansion in rural areas. According to the GSMA, 80% of connections were broadband (3G/4G) in 2023, and this share is likely to increase to 85% in 2025 due to network modernization.

Russia combines a developed telecommunications infrastructure with unique challenges related to its size, geopolitics, and regulation. Social networks and mobile communications reflect both global trends and local characteristics of the country.